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DRINKING AGE

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INTRODUCTION

Alcohol is a drug, as surely as cocaine and marijuana are, and for many of our country's young people, alcohol is the number one drug of choice. In fact, teens use alcohol more frequently and heavily than all other illicit drugs combined. While some parents may feel relieved that their teen is "only" drinking, it's important to remember that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug.

Underage Drinking

Why adolescents drink

What are the risks

Legal Drinking age and how heavy is the law enforced

Can be underage Prevent

Why adolescents drink

Alcohol is the drug of choice among youth. Many young people are experiencing the consequences of drinking too much, at too early age. As a result, underage drinking is a leading public health problem in many countries.

Liver Effects: Elevated liver enzymes, indicating some degree of liver damage, have been found in some adolescents who drink alcohol.

Growth and Endocrine Effects: hormonal changes, Drinking alcohol during this period of rapid growth and development (i.e., prior to or during puberty) may upset the critical hormonal balance necessary for normal development of organs, muscles, and bones.

Not only can alcohol affect the mind and body in unpredictable ways, but teens lack the judgment and coping skills to handle alcohol wisely. Some of the catastrophic results of teen drinking include:

Significant brain development continues through adolescents. A recent study by the National Institute of Health presents the first concrete evidence that protracted, heavy alcohol use can impair brain function in adolescents, causing, in many cases, irreversible damage.

Alcohol-related traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability among teens. Alcohol use also is linked with the deaths of young people by drowning, fire, suicide and homicide.

Teens who use alcohol are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, to have sexual intercourse more often, and to have unprotected sex more than teens who do not drink.

Young people who drink are more likely than others to be victims of violent crime, including rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.

Teens who drink are more likely to have problems with school work and school conduct.

An individual who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who waits until adulthood to use alcohol.

Legal Drinking age

Enforcement of the law in USA

Special difficulties enforcing the MLDA in the college setting

Many campuses are surrounded by a concentration of bars and clubs that cater to college students.

The MLDA is weakly and unevenly enforced, and the availability and use of high-quality fake IDs is widespread.

Enforcement of the law in Panama

Difficulties enforcing the MLDA in all areas

Almost all places sell alcohol without requesting IDs unless you enter a club or casino.

USA drinking age

Minimum legal purchase and drinking age is 21 in most of the states and others 18

Panama drinking age

Minimum legal purchase and drinking age is 18 in all the country

Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Use

Drinking and Driving: cause fatal crashes

Homicides and suicides: emotional disorders

Sexual behavior: adolescents suggest that alcohol use is associated with risky sexual behavior and increased vulnerability to coercive sexual activity.

CAN BE UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENT

School strategies

Developmentally appropriate information about drugs, including information on the short-term effects and long-term consequences of their use.

Extracurricular strategies

Better development of life skills

Decreased involvement in risky behaviors, such as drug use

Family Strategies

Monitoring children's activities during adolescence

Strengthening family bonding.

Policy Strategies

Increasing the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

Enforcement of Laws

CONCLUSION

Instead of focusing on age, should consider:

Promoting consistence policy across different levels

Promote Responsible drinking

Engaging parents, schools, communities, government, social systems, and youth in the process